Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 15.12.
The development of chitinase activity (1,4-beta-poly-N-
acetylglucosaminidase
EC 3.2.1.14) in restored and unmined native forest soils
(after Spain et al.
2006
).
Figure 15.13.
The development of biological fertility in restored and unmined native
forest soils: Microbial biomass C (right panel) and changing pattern of representation
of three ectomycorrhizal fungal morphotypes in the root tips of woody plants
(left panel) (after Spain et al.
2006
).
Ectomycorrhizal fungi are a major component of the biological fertility of
(nearly) all forest systems (Smith & Read
1997
). These fungi are important in
tree nutrition (Tibbett & Sanders
2002
) and are thought to undergo succes-
sional processes along with a forest ecosystem (e.g., Chu-Chou & Grace
1982
;
Frankland
1992
). It takes quite a number of years (7 15) for these fungi to
return to the reforested systems (Gardner & Malajczuk
1988
; Glen et al.
2008
).
Evidence from molecular studies and mycorrhizal root tip morphotyping sug-
gests that ectomycorrhizal communities may remain different from the native
forest for decades (Spain et al.
2006
; Glen et al.
2008
)(
Fig. 15.13
). While this has
real implication for soil fungal diversity, the functional significance of these
different communities is not clear.